Strawberry plant named &#39;civn260&#39;

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘CIVN260’. This new strawberry plant named ‘CIVN260’ is primarily adapted high chill growing conditions, and is primarily characterized by its plants with erect leaves and visible, easy to collect fruits; fruits with regular and conical shape; easy pollination; excellent consistency; and great taste with high sugar content and aroma.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Fragaria ananassa Duch.

Variety denomination: ‘CIVN260’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘CIVN260’. The variety is botanically known as Fragaria ananassa Duch.

The new strawberry ‘CIVN260’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventors, Michelangelo Leis and Alessio Martinelli in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy. The objective of the breeding program is to develop a new strawberry variety with high resistance to powdery mildew and general resistance to leaf and root disease; fruits with regular and conical shape; bright color; excellent consistency; and good taste and aroma even at high temperatures.

This new strawberry ‘CIVN260’ is a result of a controlled cross made by the inventors in 2009, in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy. The female or seed parent is strawberry variety designated ‘NABILA’ (Patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,338). The male or pollen parent is strawberry variety designated ‘CLERY’ (Protected, CPVO Grant No. 16743).

The new strawberry ‘CIVN260’ was discovered and selected by the inventors as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in May 2011 in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy (44° 45′ North and 12° 11′ East). After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated by stolons in a nursery located in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy. The new variety was extensively tested over the next several years in different European area with high chill conditions. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘CIVN260’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing with high chill conditions. This area provides the needed correct temperatures for flower induction and to produce a strong and vigorous plant and maintain fruit quality during fall production.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘CIVN260’, which in combination distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

-   -   1. plants with erect leaves and visible fruits;     -   2. easy to collect;     -   3. fruits with regular and conical shape;     -   4. easy to pollinate;     -   5. excellent consistency; and     -   6. great taste with high sugar content and aroma.

Plants of the new strawberry variety ‘CIVN260’ differ from plants of the parents, ‘NABILA’ and ‘CLERY’. in the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with parent varieties Characteristic ‘CIVN260’ ‘NABILA’ ‘CLERY’ Time of ripening Very early to Medium Very early to early early Grow habit Upright Upright Semi-upright Plant vigour Strong Medium Medium to strong Fruit size Large to very Large Large large Firmness Strong Firm Medium Sweetness Higher Medium to Medium high

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new strawberry variety ‘CIVN260’ is the male parent variety ‘CLERY’. Plants of the new strawberry variety ‘CIVN260’ differ from plants of ‘CLERY’ in the characteristics described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘CIVN260’ ‘CLERY’ Grow habit Upright Semi-upright Plant vigour Strong Medium to strong Fruit size Large to very large Large Firmness Strong Medium Sweetness Higher Medium

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘CIVN260’, at various stages of development as true as it is reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the botanical description which accurately describe the color of ‘CIVN260’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new strawberry variety ‘CIVN260’ were taken in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy, and are approximately 6 to 9 months old.

FIG. 1 shows typical plants of ‘CIVN260’;

FIG. 2 shows typical leaves of ‘CIVN260’;

FIG. 3 shows typical fruits of ‘CIVN260’;

FIG. 4 shows typical flowers of ‘CIVN260’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘CIVN260’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new strawberry variety ‘CIVN260’, unless otherwise noted, taken during the 2016 growing season in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy. The observations, measurements and values were taken from plants of “CIVN260’ dug from a sea level-elevation nursery located in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy, during January 2015 and planted approximately 7 months later in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy. Plants of the new strawberry variety ‘CIVN260’ were grown under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The observed plants were one year old plants. The plants used in the production field are produced in a nursery in San Giuseppe di Comacchio.

Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from 3 years of data collected from the 2014 through 2016 growing seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit unless otherwise noted.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy. The approximate age of the observed plants is about 7 months.

The following tables 3-9 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage, fruiting truss, flower and pest/disease characteristics of the new strawberry ‘CIVN260’.

TABLE 3 FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVN260’ Color of mature fruit Red group—RHS 44A Color of internal flesh Red group—RHS 42B Length (cm)   5 cm Width (cm) 3.5 cm Ratio length/width Moderately longer Calyx diameter (cm) 1.5 cm Average weight (gm)  20 gm Achene color Yellow-green group—RHS 151A Number of achenes per cm² About 10 measured at the center of berry Average weight of About 0.62 1000 achenes (g) Marketable yield (gm/plt) Average 834 gm/plt Size Large Predominant shape Conical Difference in shapes Slight between primary and secondary fruit Band without achenes Medium Unevenness of surface Weak Evenness of color Even or very slight uneven Glossiness Medium Insertion of achenes Below surface Insertion of calyx Slightly raised Attitude of the calyx Outwards Size of calyx in relation to Some size or slightly large fruit diameter Adherence of calyx Strong Firmness of skin Firm Firmness of flesh Firm Distribution of red color Uniform of the flesh Hollow center expression Absent or small Flavor Good taste with good aroma and sugar content Soluble solids (% brix) 9° Time of first flowering 28 Mar. 2016 in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy Time of first harvesting Very early to early Harvest period April to June in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy Type of bearing Not remontant

TABLE 4 PLANT CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVN260’ Height (cm) About 35 to 40 cm Spread (cm) About 50 cm Size Large Habit Upright Density Medium Vigor Medium to strong

TABLE 5 STOLON CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVN260’ Average number per plant 8-12 Anthocyanin coloration Red group—RHS 53B Anthocyanin intensity Very low Diameter at bract (mm) 3 mm Pubescence Low

TABLE 6 FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVN260’ Foliage: Color of upper surface Green group—RHS 137A Color of underside Green group—RHS 137C Shape in cross section Concave Interveinal blistering Medium Glossiness Weak Number of leaflets 3 only Terminal Leaflet: Length (cm) About 12.5 cm Width (cm) About 10 cm Length/width ratio Moderately longer Serrations/leaf Overlapping Size Big Shape of base Obtuse Shape of teeth Serrate to crenate Petiole: Length (cm) About 30 cm Diameter (mm) About 4 mm Pubescence Weak Attitude of hairs Slightly outwards Stipule: Length (mm) About 15 mm Width (mm) About 5/6 mm at the base Anthocyanin coloration Weak Color Yellow-green group—RHS 145A

TABLE 7 FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVN260’ Length (cm) About 30 to 35 cm Attitude Erect Position relative to foliage Slightly down Pubescence Medium Anthocyanin intensity Absent or very low Attitude at first pick From 45° to horizontal

TABLE 8 FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVN260’ Petal color Mature (upper) White group—RHS 155D Mature (lower) White group—RHS 155D Petal shape Overall Round Apex Rounded Base Rounded Petal length (mm) 10 mm Petal width (mm) 10 mm Petal length/width ratio Equal Number of petals/flower About 6 Sepals color Mature (upper) Green group—RHS 142A Mature (lower) Green group—RHS 138C Sepal shape Overall Lancelolate Apex Pointed Base Flat Sepal length (mm) About 10 mm Sepal width (mm) About 5/6 mm Sepal length/width ratio Longer Number of sepals/flower About 12 to 14 Corolla diameter (mm) About 30 mm Calyx diameter (mm) About 27 mm Size of calyx relative to Smaller corolla Size of inner calyx Some size relative to outer calyx Relative position of petals Free to touching

TABLE 9 PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS ‘CIVN260’ shows high resistance to powdery mildew and generally to leaf and root diseases. 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘CIVN260’, as herein described and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above. 